Camp Observations

[robbomango]

Donta Hightower is a MONSTER! - YouTube

Dayum!!!

http://gifsoup.com/

 

[patchick]

Donta Hightower is a MONSTER! - YouTube

Sounds like it's been a great first week for former Alabama LB's all around. Courtney Upshaw, the Ravens' condolence prize for missing out on Hightower, passed his conditioning run on just the second try!
Courtney Upshaw passes conditioning test on second attempt - CBSSports

 

[mayoclinic]

Hightower looks like a DL playing LB. He could end up being what Adalius Thomas was supposed to be. I'm going to try not to get my hopes up until we actually plays tho

I've made that comparison before, and I suspect that's how the Pats will try to use him. But Hightower's motor, team-first approach, instincts and leadership seem on a different plane from AD's.

The Rams just gave Chris Long a big extension:

Chris Long, St. Louis Rams reach four-year contract extension - NFL.com

It occurred to me that Hightower has very similar size and speed to Long, who was touted as a possible DE/OLB hybrid when he came out in 2008.

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree w/ Brace over Warren. If Brace, Pryor and heck, if Harrison have bang-up pre-seasons and make the Week 1 roster, I would not be surprised if Warren is cut and becomes a shadow roster player.

Has anyone heard anything regarding Marcus Harrison? He's an intriguing talent, with nice size, but a history of poor work ethic and off-field issues. But the Pats re-signed him this offseason after he was briefly on the roster last year, so perhaps they saw something in him. Or perhaps they just needed the training camp bodies. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[WhiZa]

I've made that comparison before, and I suspect that's how the Pats will try to use him. But Hightower's motor, team-first approach, instincts and leadership seem on a different plane from AD's.

The Rams just gave Chris Long a big extension:

Chris Long, St. Louis Rams reach four-year contract extension - NFL.com

It occurred to me that Hightower has very similar size and speed to Long, who was touted as a possible DE/OLB hybrid when he came out in 2008.

makes you wonder if hightower is better suited as a 4-3 DE. Can't wait to see what BB will have in store.

 

[mayoclinic]

Sounds like it's been a great first week for former Alabama LB's all around. Courtney Upshaw, the Ravens' condolence prize for missing out on Hightower, passed his conditioning run on just the second try!
Courtney Upshaw passes conditioning test on second attempt - CBSSports

Hey, that's one less try than it took Upshaw's former Alabama and current Ravens' teammate Terrance "Mount" Cody to pass the test as a rookie 2 years ago:

2010 NFL Training Camps: Terrence Cody of Baltimore Ravens passes test, cleared to practice - ESPN

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Has anyone heard anything regarding Marcus Harrison? He's an intriguing talent, with nice size, but a history of poor work ethic and off-field issues. But the Pats re-signed him this offseason after he was briefly on the roster last year, so perhaps they saw something in him. Or perhaps they just needed the training camp bodies. Inquiring minds want to know.

Brace will be injured by Week 6, so we'll have to end up calling Warren back anyways.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

makes you wonder if hightower is better suited as a 4-3 DE. Can't wait to see what BB will have in store.

He played LDE on passing down for Alabama.



Ninkovich has played 34 OLB, 43 OLB, and 43 DE on our team..... I think Hightower will take that role this year. Maybe by Week 1.

 

[condon84]

Brace will be injured by Week 6, so we'll have to end up calling Warren back anyways.

Week 6? That's very optimistic of you.

 

[Deus Irae]

Hey, that's one less try than it took Upshaw's former Alabama and current Ravens' teammate Terrance "Mount" Cody to pass the test as a rookie 2 years ago:

2010 NFL Training Camps: Terrence Cody of Baltimore Ravens passes test, cleared to practice - ESPN

Cody instead of Cunningham and the Patriots defense would be much better off....

 

[supafly]

Brace will be injured by Week 6, so we'll have to end up calling Warren back anyways.

Warren has been unspectacular, but he has also been solid and dependable here.

He knows the defensive schemes and he knows his specific roles and assignments.

I would certainly expect Warren to be close to the phone this year no matter what, and that's IF he doesn't make the roster by himself anyway. Reiss gave him a 55% chance in his daily blogs this month.

He probably won't make the initial roster so they don't have to fully guarantee his 2012 salary, which is what they did last year, but I'd be mildly surprised if he wasn't on the team 3-4 games into the season. The position itself is a bit thin, and his main competition is both Brace and Pryor...enough said.

 

[mayoclinic]

Cody instead of Cunningham and the Patriots defense would be much better off....

I've had that thought before. I was not a fan of the Cunningham pick at the time. Ochmed badly wanted Cody in 2010 (I preferred Linval Joseph, and still do, but he was gone by the time #53 rolled around). We passed on a lot of guys for Cunningham - Sean Lee, Carlos Dunlap. Hopefully the kid will turn the corner, but I'm not personally sanguine.

 

[WhiZa]

He played LDE on passing down for Alabama.



Ninkovich has played 34 OLB, 43 OLB, and 43 DE on our team..... I think Hightower will take that role this year. Maybe by Week 1.

Hightower is an ILB by trade and if you carry on with the AD comparison he had AD playing ILB even though he was an OLB with the Ravens. I really don't care where he plays just get that guy on the field!

 

[Dragda]

Anyway, he walks right up to Brady and Brady turns around smiling but Reagan forgot his pen so Brady just laughs. You could tell he felt kinda bad. By then the security guy was there telling Reagan he had to go back behind the rope.

Still, it was kinda cool.

Just had to share.....

Brady is a very nice man in addition to being the best Patriot ever. I have never heard a report where he treated anyone like a jerk. I have never spoken to Bridget Monahan, though.

 

[jsull87]

Hey guys thanks for all the updates. A couple of guys I haven't heard about are Bequette, Solder and to an extent in comparison to Hightower, Jones. Can anyone who has gone give me their impressions on these 3.

I saw some YouTube footage which was much appreciated but I did see solder get beat straight up for a sack of Brady if they were playing full contact. He has a lot of responsibility and hopefully he has a solid camp

 

[PP2]

Hey guys thanks for all the updates. A couple of guys I haven't heard about are Bequette, Solder and to an extent in comparison to Hightower, Jones. Can anyone who has gone give me their impressions on these 3.

I saw some YouTube footage which was much appreciated but I did see solder get beat straight up for a sack of Brady if they were playing full contact. He has a lot of responsibility and hopefully he has a solid camp

Bequette unfortunately has been underwhelming in the small sample I've seen of him in training camp. I've seen him line up in Wright's old spot at RDT and at LDE. Hopefully this is just a case of him getting used to NFL speed. He did do a nice job setting the edge on a few plays, though.

Jones has been holding his own pretty well. When you consider that they drafted him because of his raw talents, you get excited because this kid has a high ceiling. And for him to be holding his own right off the bat is a pretty good start.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Read a few snippets from reporters this morning that the secondary is getting torched so far. Can anyone who has gone comment more on that? It's early so not too concerned but it would be a positive if that group started to look like they could step up.

 

[WhiZa]

Read a few snippets from reporters this morning that the secondary is getting torched so far. Can anyone who has gone comment more on that? It's early so not too concerned but it would be a positive if that group started to look like they could step up.

It's hard to say they are getting torched when you can't hit the QB. It's probably more of a sign that Brady is on point rather than the defense playing poorly (i hope).

 

[TyronePoole]

Is today's camp open to the public? What time do people start queuing up? I went once last year but the crowds seem insane this year.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

How the heck are they supposed to cover Gronk, Hernandez, Welker, Lloyd and Gaffney?

If the OL plays well this year, this offense is going to be sick. A lot of people assume that if Lloyd catches a lot of balls, he will be taking catches away from someone else. I think that the addition of Lloyd and Gaffney will make this offense extremely efficient, greatly increasing the total catches, yards and TDs accumulated. If they can generate a decent run game too..... the Pats will punt only once or twice a game.